In a recent episode of the Manufacturing Executive Podcast, Bret Boyd, CEO and co-founder of Sustainment, shared his vision for a resurgence of American manufacturing — and the critical role small and mid-sized manufacturers will play in that transformation.
Boyd’s journey started at a pivotal moment, as a senior at West Point during the 9/11 attacks. His subsequent service as an infantry officer in Iraq taught him invaluable lessons about team building, empowering excellence, and creative problem-solving that continue to guide his work today.
Those experiences ultimately led him to found Sustainment, a software platform that helps manufacturers find and collaborate with the suppliers they need. Boyd sees this as mission-critical work; he believes manufacturing isn’t just a key part of the American identity, but the very fabric of countless communities nationwide.
Manufacturing is a team sport. Manufacturing gets done in community — every single OEM relies upon a trusted network of contract manufacturers and suppliers and people that are essential to what they sell to their customers.
The end of peak globalization
At the heart of Sustainment’s mission is a conviction that the world has reached “peak globalization” and is now moving toward more localized manufacturing supply chains. Boyd believes companies are seeking to balance cost optimization with supply chain resiliency, and that the resulting shift will drive a resurgence of American manufacturing.
But this won’t be a return to the past, he cautions. The next era will be technology-enabled, agile, and anchored in the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses. Boyd wants Sustainment to be part of the infrastructure layer that enables this transformation, directing opportunities to the US manufacturers best positioned to seize them.
Amplifying voices from the shop floor
To ensure that transformation reflects the needs of manufacturers themselves, Sustainment has partnered with the New American Industrial Alliance (NIAA) on a grassroots survey initiative. The goal: make certain that the voices of small and mid-sized manufacturers are heard in policy conversations about everything from workforce development to technology adoption to domestic sourcing.
The combat power in American manufacturing is in entrepreneurial small businesses spread throughout middle America. That’s where it is, full stop.
Boyd and his team are aiming to gather responses from hundreds, even thousands, of the tens of thousands of manufacturing suppliers in Sustainment’s network. They believe policymakers in Washington need to hear directly from the plant managers and business owners who are building America every day.
Preparing for the future
For manufacturers eager to position themselves for the coming wave of localization, Boyd offers this advice: identify how to connect with customers in industries likely to expand or reshore in the next 20-30 years. That may mean diversifying your customer base, exploring new business models, considering strategic acquisitions or carve-outs, or rethinking your cost structure to compete in expanded markets.
The common thread is intentionality. Manufacturers content with their current book of business risk missing out on the growth ahead. Those who think proactively, develop a plan, and take steps to be part of the shift will have an opportunity to write the next chapter of American industry — one entrepreneurial small business at a time.
To hear Bret Boyd’s complete conversation with the Manufacturing Executive Podcast, visit [link to full episode]. Learn more about Sustainment at sustainment.com.
